shorin ryu?

[Outlaw_Dogboy]

I'm sure I murdered that spelling, but hopefully I got is close enough so people will know what I'm trying to ask about.

Anyway, what is it? Opinions? I have a friend that have found an instructor near where I live, and is starting to ... participate<?> ... soon. He said that it is not "empty-hand," but couldn't tell me exactly what it is. I may be interested in starting as well, but want to know more about the ... discipline<?> ... first.

Thanks.

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Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug.
Outlaw_Dogboy

[Bob Irons]

OD,

If you go to the yahoo martial arts web page and do a search on Shorin Ryu, you'll see a couple of sites.

Here's the Yahoo page:
http://dir.yahoo.com/Recreation/Sports/Martial_Arts/

Here's one page which looks interesting:
http://www.ultranet.com/~mshipon/

There are apparently different styles of Shorin-Ryu. The above site tells their style and gives their lineage.

The Yahoo page on Martial Arts is generally a good place to start when you want to learn about new arts. It isn't perfect, but it does get updated frequently and a lot of good links can be found there.

Shorin-Ryu is not an art I study, but my vague recall is positive! Should be others here with direct experience who can give their perspective!



[This message has been edited by Bob Irons (edited 28 September 1999).]

[Outlaw_Dogboy]

Thanks Bob. I'll try those links.
O_D

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Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug.
Outlaw_Dogboy

[Sochin]

I do a branch of Shorin called Shorin-ji. Shorin is the Okinawan version of the word Shaolin, you know, from the kung fu series. Ji is temple. There are synanims for these words, different words that mean the same - spelled diff. but mean the same, whatever: shobayashi, kobayashi and others.

Usually they denote an Okinawan style that can trace its lineage back to Sokon Matsumura.

Some clubs will teach a full compliment of Okinawan weapons and some won't. Its a light on the feet, frisky style compare to some, very suitable for a light weight with an emphasis on low kicks.

Does that help?

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The Fighting Old Man

[Outlaw_Dogboy]

Thanks Sochin. It sounds like it's main emphasis is on empty hand, unless the specific club one may be in gets into weapons techniques. The only weapon that I could specifically find in any link I followed was the "bo" {?}. That's a long staff, right? (Yeah, I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to the martial arts. )

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Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug.
Outlaw_Dogboy

[Sochin]

yeah, bo's are 6' long and a lot of fun...shori is a good style but it is the teacher that makes a dojo, not the style - try it, se if you fit, and be flexible. Good luck.

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The Fighting Old Man

[Don Rearic]

It is more "frisky!" Great description. A lot of Okinawan styles are very hard and "rooted." This one is still balls-to-the-wall in my experience, but it is not my cup of tea. I am not a very regimented kind of guy.

You always, always take what is right for you. Leave the rest in the dust and good luck.

[Gwinnydapooh]

I'm biased--a good friend got taken, IMHO, by a Shorin Ryu school. Spent a lot of money to be told she was a black belt and be unable to take me, even in sparring. I figure a black belt ought to be able to hold her own against even a much larger opponent if he doesn't know much about fighting, right?
I am NOT generalizing about Shorin Ryu, just gabbing about what happened to my friend. If you don't study in Chatham or Springfield, IL you should be fine.

[Outlaw_Dogboy]

Thanks for all the feedback. Interesting that Sochin mentioned that it is pretty good for small frames. Both my friend and I are small. I guess I'll take a look at it; it can't hurt. Maybe I can even get my wife into it. She's already ahead of me, since she took Tai Kwon Do (probably murdered that one, too) in college. Of course, I think that one was more for sport, though.

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Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug.
Outlaw_Dogboy

[JF Springer]

Greetings Outlaw & Dogboy(?):

Shorin Ryu is an excellent Okinawan style is you can find some of Kise's lineage. He was the top student of Hohan Sohan, The Great White Swan. The method is one of the very few of the Okinawan systems that has not been run through the cultural filter which tends to result in a rather rigid, wooden system. Hohan apparently had a sound understanding of the "Yin" side of the method which he imparted to Kise. I trained for a number of years with Thomas Clayton, who lived on the island of Okinawa for several years post 3 combat tours of Nam as a "leg" Ranger. He had just enough mind left to realize that he was unfit to be in society at that time. Thomas was trained directly by Kise. How Thomas moved was far more fluid, and reflective of Fukien influence, than anything I have seen with regard to this system in the 20 some odd years since. Generally speaking, an American trained by another American as a teacher in this system is not a good bet. Those who know exceptions to my previous statement kindly note that I said "generally" (purely an opinion). Look for a lineage tied to Kise if you get a chance or so desire. Peace, good training and good health, John.

[Howie Lintz]

I'm sure if you ask, they will be more than happy to let you sit in on a class. That might give you a better idea as to whther or not you're interested.

[Outlaw_Dogboy]

I think that I will probably try sitting in on a class, although as far as how "good" the teacher, I'm not sure I'm fit/smart enough to judge.

Oh, and John... it's Outlaw_Dogboy, hyphenated. Although, IIRC, when I tried that when I registered, it wouldn't take a hyphen, so I "underscore"-d it. Where it came from is longer than I should go into here, and is contained in one or two other threads on where people got their "handles."

Thanks for the information, all.

O_D

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Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug.
Outlaw_Dogboy

[Dave Fulton]

If you're refering to Soken, Hohan's karate system, it is based on Fukien White Crane, not White Swan.

Also, with regard to Kise, I'd look for someone who was with him in the 70's or early to mid-80's. I trained with one of Kise's older students for a while, and one of the other students there had trained with Kise in the early-mid 90's while stationed on Okinawa. The two of them agreed that when compared to his earlier teachings, Kise's more recent teachings are more homogenized. If not for logistical problems, I would have stayed with that teacher because he was the only karate sensei I'd had who could readily answer any question (and I asked a lot of questions) regarding how to do something or why it was done a certain way. He was quite a character too.

No doubt, that will piss someone off.

Respectfully,

Dave

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Full Contact Martial Arts Association.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

[JF Springer]

Greetings Dave:

You might try reading a little more carefully before "correcting" some one who was there long before you. Sohan was known as "The Great White Swan" and I already stated the method was more representative of Fukien White Crane. What the hell is your point? Peace, good training and good health, John.